Notes:16.1 Afghan first issues are clearly tricky
customers. Gibbons (Simplified) starts in 1893 and ignores the first 16
designs, referring the user to the specialised volume. My Scott classic is
more helpful and the details above are from Scott. I will regard my stamp as "early
Afghanistan or a copy thereof". Tim Balm, one of the
FICC luminaries has offered the
following identification advice on the
FICC Forum:

Test 1: Does it have 4 large ornaments at 90 degree positions
around the outer edge. If so, then it is from Sc#2-Sc#10. If the stamp is cut
close around, pass on it.
Test 2: This is the one Jesper has cited from Scott. Are there dots in the inner
circle around the tiger's head. This is absolutely necessary. This narrows it to
Sc#2-Sc#4.
Test 2a: The ornaments at the 12:00, 3:00, 6:00 and 9:00 positions should have 3
"leaves" at the outer edge. Subsequent varieties do not have these. This helps
confirm Sc#2-4
Test 2b: The Islamic calendar date (1288) should be located between the 3
o'clock and 4 o'clock position -- mid way between the inner dotted circle and
the outer dotted circle. It might be easier to study the picture in the Scott
catalog (graphic A2 under Afghanistan). This confirms only that you are in
Sc#2-Sc#7. [The 1289 dates for Sc#8-9 are found between the 11:00 and 12:00
positions. The 1290 dates for Sc#10 are extremely poorly readable, but located
in the 4:00 position.]
Test 2c: An easy test to sort out the Sc#8-9 stamps is that the outer large
ornaments are located at the 1:30, 4:30, 7:30 and 10:30 positions.
Now you have to distinguish between Sc#2, 3 and 4. The denominations are located
inside the inner circle, right above the tiger's head. These take a fair bit of
agonizing. The 1 shahi denomination stamp is shown in graphics A2 and A5 under
Afghanistan (in my Scott 2000 catalogs). The 1 sanar denomination is best shown
above the tiger head in graphic A6. The 1 abasi denomination is similar to the 1
shahi - it is shown in graphic A3
We have not even touched upon the forgeries of these stamps. This is very ugly
in that there are 5 major varieties of the Sc#2 - all with different numbers of
dots in the outer circle that range from 77 to 86 dots. All in all, this is the
job for a true expert.

Tim adds the following advice, "All
free advice carries a money-back guarantee." These tests are not likely
"fool-proof" because I've been shown too many times what things fools can do
with my advice/guidance.16.2 None of the first design of Fiji are affordable, nor the
Post Due. The second issue is more reasonable, hence the purchase.16.3 Paraguay's first commemorative, Sc31 SG41, is a
hand-stamped overprint sold only on the day of issue. The stamp features Candido
Barreiro and the overprint reads '1492 / 12 DE OCTUBRE / 1892'.16.4 Paraguay's first airmail is an surcharged 1913 Official
Sc-O87 SG-O238. The first real airmail is the 1929 Sc-C7 SG352 2.85p
green - the whole of the C7-C12 SG352-356 set is beautifully designed and
inexpensive.16.5 Persia / Iran #1 looks like a tricky issue with many
variants, high prices and reprints and forgeries commonplace. Scott and Gibbons date
the first as 1868, Mackay as 1870.16.6 For Iran's first commemorative, a 19-stamp set was
printed but not issued, being sold in 1923 to dealers. 1915 brought another
coronation issue.16.7 Iran officials O1-O4 were printed but not issued.16.8 Scott's St. Christopher A1-A4 (1858-60) are GB stamps
differentiated by cancellation. Scott dates the ½d green (Sc8, SG11) as 1882 and
the 1d mauve (Sc4, SG2) as 1875.16.9 Guatemala Charity - Scott's B1 is a 1937 issue for the
first Philatelic Exhibition held in Guatemala.16.10 None of the early Portugese India issues Sc1-9,
1871-72 are affordable. All share the same design.16.11 Guatemala's first Express is a
definitive overprint. The graphic E2, to be shown here, was issued for ordinary
postal use as Sc33B SG517 and surcharged 10c for express use as E2. I'll show
the original while looking for an E2.16.12 On Hungary's first commemorative, I might as well go
for the pair for balance.16.13 Given the cost of Japan's first three airmails, a
better option might be the SC-C6 or C7, SG260 or 261 at £8 and £5 used, both
using the same design as the C3.16.14 For Japan charity, Scott starts with the 1937 B1
above. Mackay states 1942, which is probably the Surrender of Singapore
surcharge Sc-B4 SG385.
16.15 removed16.16 Alsace Lorraine's #1 is rather expensive. The first
set of seven stamps are all of the same design and so I am going with the 10
centimes #5.

Notes:17.1Surinam Sc#1 and Sc#2 (2c yellow) were issued in 1885. Sc#3
was the first stamp in 1873.17.2 Scott's first German Official is the 1920 Sc-O1
SG-O117 5pf green. Mackay and Guinness start in 1903, with SG-O82, Scott's OL1,
listed as a Local Official 2pf slate for use in Prussia.17.3 Scott begins Netherlands Antilles in 1873. Gibbons
starts that year with Curacao, which 'later became part of the Antilles'; the
latter starts in a separate section in Gibbons in 1949, although the numbering
is contiguous, SG1-SG305 for Curacao, SG306 onwards for Netherlands Antilles.17.4 Netherlands Antilles first real airmail was the
1931 C6 20c red. The C4 and C5, to the same design, were issued in 1924 and 1938
respectively.17.5 Iceland Official. Scott's O1 lists in my 2001 Classic as
$6,000 / $7,000. Gibbons O8 is £48 / £250 and must be the Sc-O3 with a
perforation variation. Both too expensive for me. There is a clear winner for
the .17.6 From 1873 until 1876, Puerto Rico used Cuban stamps with
an overprinted squiggle. 1877 saw the first issue inscribed PTO RICO.17.7 There are an awful lot of Italian Offices Abroad and I
do not intend to pay a great deal of attention to them. The first from the
Levant (or Turkish Empire) is in dispute. Gibbons and Mackay opt for an 1874
General Issue as SG1, Scott for a 1908 issue printed at Turin. For the rest,
most are numbered sequentially in Gibbons, many are given #1s in Scott. In
a change of heart (March 2004), I will now try to deal with these in detail:

17.8 On Montenegro, Gibbons starts in 1874, restarts at no. 1
in 1941 under Italian Occupation, then continues sequentially from 1943 (SG76)
under German Occupation.17.9 Jind, as Faridkot, issued stamps as both a Feudatory and
a Convention state. The Feudatory period was 1874 to 1885 and includes
stamps Sc1 to Sc32; SG-J8 to SG-J25 (Simplified); SG-J1 to SG-J53 (Commonwealth
and Empire). The Convention period was 1885 to 1943 with issues Sc33 to Sc167;
SG1 to SG149 (both editions).